Method and means for the safety carriage or transport of specimens



July 27 1926.

J. S. JOHNSON METBOD AND MEANS FOR THE SAFETY CARRIAGE OR TRANSPORT 0F SPECIMENS Filed Feb. 14 1925 .E/Y7Z'LL. 6 I

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Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES mazes PATENTIOFFICE.

JOHN SEWARD JOHNSON, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHNSON 6t JOHNSON, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR THE SAFETY. CARRIAGE TRANSPORT OF SPEOIMENS.

Application filed February The importance of expert or scientific examination of human secretions and excretions in the determination of diseases, their cause and effect, is so generally recognized that it is now standard practice to require the patient to furnish specimens for purposes of analysis. In some instances this must be done at frequent intervals, for example several times a week and sometimes daily. And all sorts of containers, tin, glass, etc. are pressed into service, and the practice at best is not only unsanitary and obnoxious, but is laborious, inconvenient and expensive.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient and inexpensive method and means for the safe transport of specimens of the nature indicated. Another object is to provide a container for the purpose stated which will be leakage-proof, odor-proof and otherwise adapted for shipment by mail, and which having served its purpose may be readily destroyed, as by burning.

With such and other objects in view, the nature, characteristic features, and scope of the invention will more readily be understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, wherein,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a specimen container embodying features of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

The improved container embodies an external casing or main receptacle, and subreceptacles, all of which, for economy, and to facilitate destruction, are constructed of pulp or fiber rendered leakage-proof by well known-and approved methods.

The external casing or main receptacle is shown by way of example as a rectangular box 5 having a friction cover 6.

A subreceptacle 7 of rectangular box form is designed to rest upon the bottom of the box 5. It is preferably an integral construction free from seams and having its bottom reinforced, as at 8, at the juncture with the side walls. The side Walls preferably depend beyond the bottom to provide a dead air space 9. Subreceptacle 7 is sealed by a removable friction top or cover 10, whose skirt 11 is received between the side walls of the subreceptacle and the main receptacle and thereby provides a dead air space 12. The cover 10'may or may not 14. 1925.- Serial No. 9,216.

have the general dish effect shown and which is provided by the continuous ledge 13'. When present the latter has the merit of stiffening the cover 10, which in addition to sealing the subreceptacle 7 also supports a subreceptacle 14.

The subreceptacle 14 is preferably of frusto conical construction, with its bottom and sides formed in one piece and free from seams. Its sides extend beyond the bottom so as to stiffen the latter and also to provide a dead air space 15. Subreceptacle 14 is centered by an aperture box-like collar 16 frictionally engaging the subreceptacle and also the inner Walls of the external casing. The collar 16 performs a three fold function, namely to center the subreceptacle 14 and secure it against movement, to resist collapse of the external casing and to aid in sealing the external casing by the formation of a dead air space 17. Subreceptacle 14 is stopped by a closure 18 of the bung or inverted disk type. Closure 18 has an external flange or rim 19 which overlies the end Wall of the subreceptacle 14, and when the cover 6 of the main receptacle is applied it bears upon said flange and holds it under compression to its seat.

In practice, subreceptacle 7 contains intestinal matter and subreceptacle 14 contains a specimen of kidney secretions. The construction and arrangement are such that one subreceptacle holds the cover of the other subreceptacle under compression, and

in turn has its own cover secured under compression by the cover of the main receptacle. The subreceptacles as well as the main receptacle readily lend themselves to appropriate markings or labels. And since they are gas ti ht and water tight they are admirably a apted for transport by mail as is often necessary or desirable.

If the specimen for which subreceptacle 14 is designed, is unnecessary and that receptacle is omitted, the centering guide or collar 16 may be pushed down to engage the top 10 of subreceptac'le 7.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Means for transporting specimens of the nature indicated, comprising an external casing, a friction cover therefor, a lower receptacle, a cover therefor, said receptacle and cover fitting more or less snugly in the bottom of the casing, an upper receptacle of materially less sectional dimension than that of the casing, and adapted to be held between the top of the lower receptacle and the friction cover of the easing, and a centering guide slidably fitted Within the casing and encircling and hearing against the Walls of the uppermost receptacle to hold the latter in spaced relation to the Walls of the casing.

2. Means for transporting specimens of the nature indicated, comprising a casing, a cover therefor, a lower receptacle having a cover and of substantially the sectional dimension of the casing, an upper receptacle having a cover and of materially less sectional dimension than that of the casing, the upper receptacle being held between the cover of the lower receptacle and the cover of the casing, and a guide element slidably fitting Within the casing and adapted to engage and center the upper receptacle relative to the casing, said guide element being movable to engage and hold the lower receptacle in place at the bottom of the casing in'the absence of the upper receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN SEWARD JOHNSON. 

